By Jenna Ingalls |Staff writerThe Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Multicultural Student Engagement Office hosted on June 4 a listening session in response to the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Brenna Taylor and racism and the systematic oppression in America.Tiffany Townsend, AU’s new chief diversity officer, said that the session was a place for vulnerable conversations.“The first step in healing is expression,” said Townsend.Students and faculty were encouraged to voice how they were feeling and to ask how the university is going to respond. The session was not recorded in order to create a safe space for the participants involved.“We can’t move forward without open and honest conversation with each other,” said Townsend.More than 180 people from the community were a part of the listening session.“It was clear that this was a much needed space,” said Townsend.The conversation was primarily focused on what needs to be done within Augusta University in response to systematic racism and becoming a more inclusive and equitable campus.Townsend said the next listening session has not been scheduled; however, the Multicultural Student Engagement Office and Office of Diversity and Inclusion are working to set a date.“We are not just planning; we are actively engaging,” said Townsend.The ODI has released a summer outreach program that gives students the opportunity to work with the ODI and develop a project that will help further diversity, equity and inclusion at AU. The deadline for the application is June 30. The ODI has also posted a research grant and a development grant.For more information on the summer program and grants, go to www.augusta.edu/diversity/grants. Contact Jenna Ingalls at JEINGALLS@augusta.edu.